Apparatus for producing music-rolls



(No Model.)

` 4 Sheets-Sheet I. J. B. TRACY. APPARATUS POR PRODUGING MUSIC ROLLS. vNo. 5I 0,352.

Patented Oct. 27

1H: Nom-s Puras co. wonmmo.. wAsHmn-r (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. l lKTMCYl APPARATUS FOR PRGDUUING MUSIG ROLLS.

No. 570,352. Patented Oct. 27, 1896.

W/TNESSES.'

INVENTOH A TTOHNE Y S.

(No Model.) 4 Sheet s-Sheet'3. J. B. TRACY.

l APPARATUS PoR PRODUGING MUSIC ROLLS. N0. 570,352. PatentedOGt. 27,1896.

4 Sheet'S--Sheet 4. J. B. TRACY. APPARATUS POB. PRODUGING MUSIC ROLLS.No. 570,352.

(No Model.)

Patented Qot. 27, 1896. ./y

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NTTEDY STATES PATENT FFICE..

JAMES n. TRACY, CLNERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

APPARATUS FOR PR'ODUCING IVI USlC-ROLLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,352, dated October27, 1896. Application med March 28,1895. serial No. 543,497. (No moda.)

To a/ZZ wir/0m t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JAMES B. TRACY, of Meriden, in the county of NewI-Iaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and ImprovedApparatus for Producing Music- Rolls, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to the manufacture of perforated rolls or sheetsused in pneumatic musical instruments for producing the desired toneseither pneumatically or by the aid of cylinders, combs, star-wheels, orother mechanism.

The object of the invention is to providea new and improved method ofand apparatus for producing such music rolls or sheets in a very simpleand comparatively inexpensive manner, and in any desired quantity, andwithout the use of the large stencils now employed.

The inventionconsists of certain parts and details and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorrespondin g parts in all the views.

Figure 'l is a sectional side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is anenlarged transverse section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig.3 is a like view of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. et is asimilar view of the same on the line l 4 of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a likeview of the same on the'line 5 5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is an enlargedsectional plan view of part of the improvement on the line 6 6 of Fig.l, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the primarypneumatics.

In the manufacture of music-sheets for use in Eolian and other pneumaticmusical instruments as now practiced the notation of the score is markedin dots and dashes on a blank sheet of thick paper, and the marks thencut out by hand, so as to form a pattern or stencil, which necessarilyassumes large dimensions, (as much as three hundred feet long andeighteen inches wide,) and which is then used in a perforating-machineas apattern, to reproduce paper sheets of greatly-reduced size to besuitable for use in the musical instruments. The stencils are kept instock at the place of manufacture and are used from time to time in theperforating-machine, to form music-sheets as called for by the trade. Aseach piece of music is represented by such a large stencil it requiresthe safe storing of a large number of stencils, each different from theother, to manufacture therefrom the music-sheets, and the number ofstencils greatly increases, as for each new piece of music desired to beadded to the repertoire a stencil must be made and stored.

To avoid the storing of the stencil and permit of destroying the sameafter a desired number of music-sheets are produced therefrom in theperforating-machine, and to be still enabled to accurately produce anydesired number of music-sheets at any time in the perforating-niachineand use a sheet which is the product of the same or any other machinedesigned for a like purpose after the original stencil has beendestroyed,` is the principal object of the invention, presently to bedescribed in detail.

The apparatus as shown in the drawings is provided with dies A, mountedin a suitable framework and arranged in such a manner as to permit ofpassing a sheet of paper B, to be formed into a music sheet or roll,between the two dies. The dies A are provided with die-apertures A, eachof which is adapted to be engaged by the upper end of a punch C, so thatwhen one of the punches is pushed upward it forms a perforation oraperture in the sheet B. The several punches C are mounted to slidevertically in suitable bearings, and each punch is provided near itslower end with shoulders C G2, of which the shoulder C is adapted to beengaged by a lug D, formed on a cross-head D, fitted to slide insuitable bearings D2, secured to the framework of the machine, asplainly indicated in Fig. 2.

The cross-head D is pivotally connected with pitmen E, engaging thecrank-arms F' of the main driving-shaft F, provided with suitablepulleys F2, connected by a belt F? with machinery for imparting a rotarymotion to the said shaft F. Thus when the latter is :rotated thecrank-arms F and pitmen E impart a reciprocating motion to the crossheadD, the stroke of which is such that the upper end of the lug D does notcome in con- IOO tact with the shoulder C2 at the time the crank-arms F'are in their uppermost position, and consequently the respective punch Cis not lifted to perforate the sheet B unless the projection G' of aslide G is moved upon the shoulder C2, so that the upper end of the lugD' engages the said projection G' and lifts the latter, and consequentlythe respective punch C, to cause the upper end thereof to punch thesheet B. On the downward movement of the cross-head D the lug D engagesthe shoulder C' to draw the punch back to its normal position,(shown inFig. 1,) it being understood that the normal position is when the upperend of the punch is below the sheet B.

Each punch C is provided with one of the slides G, and the latter arefitted to slide horizontally in suitable bearings G2, arranged in theframework of the machine. One arm of a bell-crank lever I-I, fulcrumedin the framework, engages the slide G, so that when a rocking motion isgiven to this bell-crank lever the,v corresponding slide is movedforward and backward to engage and disengage the shoulder C2 for thepurpose previously mentioned.

Each bell-crank lever H is connected at its rear end by a wire l-I' witha spring-pressed arm H2, connected by a link H3 with a bellows I, ofthe. usual construction and supported in the framework of the machine.Thus foreach punch C, and there are as many as fifty-eight in a largeperforating-machine,` I provide a principal bellows I, and each bellowsI is connected by a pipe J with a compound valve J', arranged in theexhaust-chamber K, supported in the framework and provided with aprimary bellows K', similar to the bellows I and adapted toactuate thevalve J', as hereinafter described. The valve J fits loosely on pinsprojecting from the sides of the chamber K and is engaged by the freeend ofthe spring J 2 to. hold it normally closed. The valve J carriesthe button-valve J 2, which is on the outside of the chamber K and isconnected to the valve J' by the stem j, as clearly shown in Fig. l.

Each primary bellows K' is connected by a pipe L with a duct N, leadingto a corresponding aperture in the tracker-board O, held on the upperend of the ducts N, as illustrated in Figs. l and In order to get morestock around each die-aperture, so as to render the die more durable,the die-apertures can be alternately arranged, that is to say, theapertures can be arranged in rows, the apertures of one row beingopposite the spaces between two apertures of the other ro-w. In thisevent the upper ends of the punches wil-l be so` shaped as to readilyenter the apertures of the die, and the apertures of the trackerboardwill be arranged similarly to those of the die. Over this tracker-boardO passes a music sheet or roll P, having the usual perforations andbeing one of the sheets ordinarily used in the Eolian or other musicalinstrument. Each primary bellows is provided with a pin-aperturesomewhat less than the aperture in the tracker-board, to insure a rapidclosing of the primary bellows after it has been actuated by iniiationas the air passes through the uncovered tracker-board opening, duct N,and pipe L to the said primary bellows. Now on closing the inflatedbellows the air can pass through the pinhole into the exhaust-chamber toprevent the bellows from becoming wind-cramped and to insure a rapidclosing. The music-sheet P is iirst wound on a roll Q, j ournaled in abracket attached to the tracker-board, and then unwinds from this rollto pass over the trackerboard O, to then pass under a guide-roll Q', tobe then connected with the holder or clamp S, secured to an endless beltor chain R, as plainly indicated in Fig. l.

The holder or clamp S is secured to the upper run of the endless belt orchain R and is adapted to clamp the front end of the sheet B, so thatthe latter is drawn through the dies A at the same rate of speed thatthe sheet P is pulled over the tracker-board O, as both sheets B and Pare attached to the same traveling belt or chain R by the same clamp.The belt or chain R runs over sprocket-wheels R' and R2, journaled inthe frame of the machine.

The rear sprocket-wheels R2 are secured on a transversely-extendingshaft R2, carrying at one outer end a ratchet-wheel R4, engaged by apawl R5, fulcrumed on an arm R6, loosely fulcrumed on .the said shaftR3, and the arm is connected at its free end by a link R7 with acrank-disk R8, secured on the main drivingshaft F, as is plainlyillustrated in Fig. 2. Thus by the rotation of the main drivingshaft Fan intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the shaft R3 bythemechanism just described, so that an intermittent traveling motion isgiven to the endless belt or chain R. The arrangement of the crank-armsF' and the crank-disk R8 is such that the punches C are at a standstillduring the time motion is given to the chain or belt R, and the latteris at a standstill while the punches perforate the paper in the dies A,as previously explained.

The chambers K, containing primary bellows K' and compound valve J', areconnected by a channel K2 with chamber T, connected with bellows U ofthe usual construction and provided with two exhausters V, each of whichisA connected by al pitman V' with a crank-arm V2, formed on acrank-shaft V3, journaled in suitable bearings in the main frame. Apulley V4, secured on the said crank-shaft V3, is connected by a belt V5 with the pulley F2 on the main driving-shaft F, so that the rotarymotion of the latter is transmitted to'y the crank-.shaft V2 to causethe crank-arms V2 and pitmen V' to actuate the exhausters to exhaust theair from the bellows U.. Two. exhausters are preferably employed, withthe crank-arms V2 set diametri@- IOO IIO

ally opposite each other, as indicated in Fig. 3, so that a continuousexhausting of air from the bellows takes place.

Now it will be seen that when the several parts are in the positionillustrated in Fig. 1 and motion is given to the main driving-shaft F,then the sheet B is pulled through the dies A at the same time the sheetP is drawn over the tracker-board O, and the punches C are actuated topunch the sheet B when the latter is at rest, and according to theaperture in the sheet P, that is, when an aperture in the sheet P passesover a corresponding aperture in the tracker-board O, then air can passfrom the outside into the corresponding duct N and through the pipe L,connected with this duct, into the corresponding primary bellows K',expanding the same and thereby opening or lifting the valve J and at thesame time closing the button-valve J 2, thus allowing a free passage ofair to be drawn through the corresponding pipe J from the principalbellows I, connected with the said pipe J. This principal bellows I isthus collapsed and pulls by its link H3 on its spring-pressed arm H2,whereby the link H', connected with the arm H2, imparts a swingingmotion to the bellcrank lever H, so that the latter pushes thecorresponding slide G outward to move the projection G in engagementwith the shoulder C2 of the punch C, corresponding with that aperture inthe sheet P in register with the apertures in the trackenboard O and theduct N. Now when the cross-head1) moves upward its lug D moves inengagement with the projection G', and consequently the punch C israised and an aperture is punched in the sheet B, corresponding to theaperture in the sheet P in register with the duct in the tracker-boardO.

When the aperture in the tracker-board O is closed by the movement ofthe sheet P, the expanding power of the bellows K is lost, and valve J',button-valve J 2, and primary bellows K' are instantly returned to theirnormal positions by the pressure of the spring J2, opening thebutton-valve J 2 to the outside, and thereby insuring a rapid return ofthe principal bellows I.

It is understood that one, two, or more apertures in the sheet P maypass simultaneously over the corresponding apertures in thetracker-board O, so that one, two, or more corresponding punches C arelifted simultaneously by the cross-head I) to punch correspondingapertures in the sheet B. As ihe two sheets B and P move simultaneouslythe same distance, the apertures punched in the sheet B correspondexactly to those contained in the sheet P.

number of sheets B, placed one upon the other, are pulled simultaneouslythrough the dies A, so that a number of music-sheets are produced at thesame time.

In practice, a large l It will be seen that by the arrangement describeda large and cumbersome stencil for mechanically actuating the punches Cfis not required. Only one of the ordinary musicsheets once produced isemployed and passed over the tracker-board O, to pneumatically controlthe punches C to form new sheets or rolls which are an exactreproduction of the sheet P employed at the time.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. In an apparatus for producing musicrolls, thecombination with a perforated tracker-board over which passes aperforated pattern-sheet, which moves in unison with the sheet to beperforated, and reciprocating punches by which the sheet is perforated,of slides controlling the movement of the punches, a bellows for eachpunch, bell-crank levers each having one end engaging a slide, and apivoted and spring-pressed lever connected with the other end of thebell-crank lever and with the bellows, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for producing music-rolls, comprising dies between whichpasses the sheet to be perforated, reciprocating punches in conjunctionwith the said dies, to perforate the sheets, each punch being providedwith two shoulders, a cross-head having areciproeating motion, andadapted to engage one of the said shoulders, a slide adapted to move inengagement with the other shoulder to be engaged by the said cross-head,and a bellows connected with the said slide to move the latter in andout of engagement with the said shoulder, substantially as shown anddescribed. l

3. An apparatus for producing music-rolls, comprising dies between whichpass the sheet to be perforated, reciprocating punches in conjunctionwith the said dies, to perforate the said sheet-s, each punch beingprovided with two shoulders, a cross-head having a reciprocating motion,and adapted to engage one of the said shoulders, a slide adapted to movein engagement with the other shoulder to be engaged by the saidcross-head, a bel lows connected with the said slide to move the latterin and out of engagement with the said shoulder, a valved bellowsconnected with the first-named bellows, an exhauster connected with thevalved bellows, .and a tracker-board over which passes the perforatedpattern-sheet, the said tracker-board being connected with the saidvalved bellows, to control the action of the valve therein,substantially as shown and described.

i JAMES B. TRACY. Witnesses:

FRANK S. FAY,

L. C. PARDEE.

IOO

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